Research Projects

The Clear Roads Technical Advisory Committee proposes new research projects for funding at the beginning of every year. Below is a list of current research efforts.

Projects to Award Soon

1. Cost-benefit Analysis Toolkit Phase 2
2. Determining the Toxicity of Deicing Materials
3. Environmental Factors Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operators
4. Snow Removal at Extreme Temperatures – Phase 1
5. Improved Snowplow Design and Material Used In Construction on Both Front and Underbody Plows
6. Development of a Totally Automated Spreading System – Phase 1
   

Research in Progress

1. Understanding the True Costs of Snow and Ice Control Operations
2. Mapping Weather Severity Zones
   

Completed Projects

1. Developing a Training Video for Field Testing of Deicing Materials (December 2011)
2. Development of a Toolkit for Cost-benefit Analysis of Specific Winter Maintenance Practices, Equipment and Operations (November 2010)
3. Identifying the Parameters for Effective Implementation of Liquid-only Plow Routes (September 2010)
4. Development of Standardized Test Procedures for Carbide Insert Snowplow Blade Wear (September 2010)
5. Correlating Lab Testing and Field Performance for Deicing and Anti-icing Chemicals (Phase I) (August 2010)
6. Development of Interface Specifications for Mobile Data Platforms on DOT Vehicles (April 2010)
7. Development of Standardized Test Procedures for Evaluating Deicing Chemicals (March 2010)
8. Developing and Evaluating Safe Winter Driving Messages (March 2010)
9. Determining Effectiveness of Deicing Materials and Procedures (December 2009)
10. Calibration Accuracy of Manual and Ground-Speed-Control Spreaders (February 2008)
11. Synthesis of Best Practices for Eliminating Fogging and Icing on Winter Maintenance Vehicles (September 2006)
    

All Proposed Projects

The Clear Roads Technical Advisory Committee members propose projects every year for funding consideration. View the list of projects proposed and discussed in 2004-2007 using the links below. Additional research ideas emerged during the meeting discussions.

All Proposed Projects in 2011 (1.6 MB)
All Proposed Projects in 2010 (79 KB)
All Proposed Projects in 2009 (256 KB)
All Projects Proposed in 2008 (2.5 MB)
All Projects Proposed in 2007 (1.4 MB)
All Projects Proposed in 2006 (189 KB)
All Projects Proposed in 2005 (71 KB)
All Projects Proposed in 2004 (60 KB)